Pope Leo begins respiratory therapy, recovering 'as expected' day after lung surgery

Pope Leo XIV began respiratory physical therapy and started walking around his hospital room on Oct. 14, one day after surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.

In a joint statement, surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora and personal doctor Dr. Luigi Carbone said the pope's recovery is proceeding as expected. The doctors noted that blood tests and a chest X-ray performed that morning showed results within the normal range for this type of surgery. The pope has also resumed his regular diet, including breakfast and lunch.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told journalists that the pope was in good spirits. The surgery followed a series of medical exams, including a robotic bronchoscopy with biopsy, a chest CT scan, and a PET scan. These tests were conducted after the pope disclosed on Oct. 11 that medical examinations had found a well-contained lung nodule at an early stage. Pope Leo was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Oct. 13 for the procedure.